TO THE VICTORIA & GEORGE CROSS

Sir John Christopher Guise (1826-1895) was born on 27th July 1826 in Highnam, near Gloucester, the son of a Peninsular War veteran, Sir John Guise, 3rd Baronet, GCB, and Charlotte Diana Vernon. He attended the Royal Military College at Sandhurst and in 1845, was appointed an Ensign in the 90th Regiment of Foot (later the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)). He was swiftly promoted to first Lieutenant, and then Captain on 9th November 1846.

He was posted to the Crimea on the outbreak of the hostilities there in 1854, and served between the dates of 5th December and 24th December 1854, being present at the Siege of Sebastopol, before he fell ill and was invalided home. He was awarded the Crimean Medal with clasp, and the Turkish Medal. On the 20th July 1855, he was promoted to Major.

In 1857, he was posted with his Regiment to help quell the Indian Mutiny, and was heavily involved in the Siege and Capture of Lucknow in November 1857. He was elected for the VC (citation, 24th December 1858) by his fellow officers for two acts of gallantry between 16th and 17th November 1857. He was asked to lead the attack on the Secundra Bagh. When the attack was made on the Mess House at Lucknow, he saved the life of Captain Irby, warding the enemy away from him with his firelock. He also went out under heavy enemy fire to help two other wounded men.

Guise was presented with his VC sometime in 1859 in India (sadly no further information is known). Guise went on to command the 90th Regiment from 1861-1864, and would remain in the Army until in 1890, he took retirement and was made Colonel of the Leicestershire Regiment. He held the post until his death, aged 68, on 5th February 1895 at St Waleran House, Gorey, County Wexford, Ireland. Ironically, Guise died on the same day as a Crimean VC, Major General Robert Montresor Rogers. Guise was buried in Christ Church Churchyard in Gorey, and his medals are held in the Ashcroft Collection, Imperial War Museum.

LOCATION OF MEDAL: LORD ASHCROFT GALLERY, IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM.

BURIAL PLACE: GOREY CHURCHYARD, GOREY, COUNTY WEXFORD, IRELAND

John Christopher Guise

VC, CB

John Guise's medals including VC on display at the Lord Ashcroft Gallery, Imperial War Museum, London (August 2014).